Pilot  Briefing

My first attempts at aerial photography were taping a Kodak Hawkeye camera to a big home made kite.  A second string was to actuate the shutter slide; then you would wind in the kite and advance the film.  Lots of winding and no pictures of the Mission Hills over Fremont California .  I just couldn't figure out a way to attach the string to the lever so it wouldn’t come off.,

Real flying lessons came on my 12th birthday.  A half hour in an Aeronca Champ.  My log book is sprinkled with a flight or two for each birthday until soloing the summer I was 16 and eventually negotiating the Private checkride 3 months into 17.  Flying was sporadic while my kids were growing up.  After I married off my daughter Katie I figured I was ready to resurrect those skills and became current again on 11-11-2000. Since then I have accumulated over 600 hours and an Instrument and Commercial rating .

What fun I have been having!  Taking friends and family on aerial adventures to soak up the Majestic Trinity Alps or to Pirouette around Shasta’s peak.  I confess that I am partly motivated to perfect the panoramas so those of you who are on the fence about flying in a small plane might be enticed to go for a ride and see it for yourself.  And those that can’t find their way clear to climb into my rented cabin can enjoy it almost as if you were there.  A scenic flight with me means you are going to get a great photo in addition to your memories of our expedition over our spectacular North State scenery.  Just flying around at 12,000 feet with the window open while I take photo sequences is an adventure in itself!  I hope you will come join me sometime and we will capture some real North State Beauty…

Eric Marshall is a Construction Observer for PACE CIVIL Inc. Redding California .  His Photography interests began in 1980 when he purchased a Konica 35mm camera from Crown Camera and took their Introductory lessons.  Now he Shoots with a Fuji S2 and a Nikon D2Xs digital camera. He has attended  George Lepp Institute Seminars in Los Osos.  He shoots many images documenting the progress of the grant funded public works projects he observes where he­­ is the eyes and ears of the Project Engineer.